General Course Information

TV101: Television Culture in America — Summer1 2016 — MSCR 1150:01 CRN#41119
Class: MTWR 9:50am-11:30am (Forsyth Building 150)
Course Prerequisites: None

N.B. This syllabus functions very much like a living document and the course website will reflect updates or changes to the syllabus, assignments, etc. The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course and deviations may be necessary. Thus, check the website regularly.

Course Description

This course offers students an introduction to television studies, and it explores how television operates within industrial, political, aesthetic, cultural, and technological contexts. The course offers a range of screenings to contextualize critical and historical readings about television institutions, television programming, audiences, and changing technologies. The majority of this course will be focused on contemporary television and, although we will discuss television within various historical contexts, no prior knowledge about television studies is necessary to engage with the content in this class. Students will be provided with the tools to engage in critical writing about television and this course will develop the critical thinking and writing skills necessary for academic criticism of television in addition to the vocabulary and conceptual tools necessary for scholarly writing about television.

 

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Define terms, concepts, and theories fundamental to the study of television.
  • Employ these terms, concepts, and theories in academic writing, class discussion, and class presentations.
  • Write analytical and critical essays to illustrate understanding of, engagement with, and thoughtful use of vocabulary and concepts relevant to television studies.
  • Conduct research specific to television studies.

The critical, argumentative, and written skills gained in this course are those required for upper-level courses in studies of media as well as for other critical engagements with the world.

 

Required Texts

  • Jason Mittell, Television and American Culture (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010). Available on Amazon.com.
  • Additional readings available online.
  • TV Episodes (viewed outside of class).
    • Beyond the TV episodes screened during class, you will be required to view episodes from a range of TV programs for your TV journal entries.
    • The entire class will also watch Orphan Black — Season 1. [NOTE: We will not begin viewing this series until 5/25]. You can gain access to the first season of this series in a number of ways, including:

N.B. This course will contain materials that some students may find offensive (e.g. controversial readings and/or media clips with foul language, nudity, sexual scenes, etc.). Review the syllabus carefully to determine your commitment to the course and the required readings/screenings.

Printable Syllabus (original version without web updates)